Truck bed camping is a blast, and it’s a quick way to get out into nature.
But for someone who hasn’t done it before, it may be a little daunting.
I thought back on my own experiences and what others have advised me to do to come up with these 12 tips for truck bed camping.
Read on for the details and get ready to explore a whole new way of enjoying the great outdoors.
It seems like a trick to make picking the best truck bed tents a tip all on its own, so I’ll put the link to our review here for you to check out when you want.
Table of Contents
Get Clear On The Types Of Truck Bed Tents
There are a few types of camping options available in your truck and truck bed.
Look at this brief review of them to help you decide which one is right for you.
| Type Of Truck Camping | Brief Description | Pros | Cons |
| Truck bed tent | Tent specifically made to fit your truck bed | Fits bed perfectly, secure and safe in weather | Lose space while tent is up, needs to be taken down when you drive |
| Overland tent or Rooftop Tent | Tent connected to a rack over the cab of your truck | Very secure, saves space, easy to fold up | Costs more, takes effort to connect, have to climb up |
| Ground tent in the back of truck | Stick a pop-up in the bed | Save money on buying new gear | Won’t fit as well, may scratch your truck |
| DIY tent | Drape a canvas tarp over the bed of your truck | Cheaper, feels more rugged | Less secure, less waterproof, more likely to scratch your truck |
| Truck Cap | Use your truck’s cap (if you have one) for cover | No extra setup, no extra cost | High cost of a cap up front |
| Sleeping bag in the bed | Just you and a sleeping surface and the stars | Super fast, super easy, super cheap | No shelter from bad weather at all |
| Truck camper | Buy a whole camper that sits in the bed of your truck | Comfortable, warm, lots of storage and amenities | Very high price, tough setup, sucks up gas while driving |
Truck Bed Sleeping Ideas: Use An Air Mattress Or Sleeping Pad
Some folks think because they’re sleeping on the bed of the truck, they don’t need to worry about an air mattress or mats or pads, and they couldn’t be more wrong.
Yes, your truck bed is level and all, but you still want to add a little something to make it a bit more comfortable.
A thick sleeping bag may do the job, but if you have any chance of back pain, don’t risk it.
Get a simple sleeping pad or, better yet, get an air mattress for maximum comfort.
It may seem like you’re removing some of the “roughing it” experience, but it’s such a small part, so why ruin the rest of your trip with pain and poor sleep.
For More Comfort, Choose A Truck Tent Where You Sleep On The Floor
Truck bed tents and truck bed camping are known to be super comfortable if you do it right.
Outside of an actual camper, it’s the most comfortable way to camp outdoors, in my opinion.
A huge part of this comes down to the flat surface of the truck bed and the level orientation of the truck itself.
If you use an elevated cot or a truck tent that lifts you off the ground to add more storage, you lose the flat surface (though you do stay level).
This makes it less comfy than it could have been.
Read more in our answer to the question: Are truck tents comfortable? (With tips to make it comfier too!)
Park On Level Ground (Or Use Block To Make Your Truck More Level)
Trucks will adjust slightly to be level, but if they’re not even close, you’ll still be sleeping on a slant.
Use camper blocks or pieces of wood to adjust the level of the truck and make it even all around.
When we do need to use blocks or pieces of wood under tires, we do these steps:
- Park where you want to be.
- Use a level in the truck bed to determine which side or side of the trucks are low (or eyeball it).
- Pull the truck forward 6” inches.
- Place the blocks or pieces of wood where the low tires were.
- Back the truck up on top of those pieces.
- Check the level again.
- Repeat and adjust as needed.
Unless you’re parked right on a hill, you won’t have too much trouble with this.
Truck Bed Camping Setup: For More Storage, Choose A Platform Tent Where You Sleep Up
Consider your setup. If you’re camping in one spot for a long time, you may not want to give up all of your storage space to a tent or sleeping space.
If this is the case, consider a tent with some storage space below or even use an elevated cot.
Of course, you’ll give up some sleeping space and lower the comfort level a little.
You probably noticed this is the opposite of an earlier tip. That’s OK!
It’s always good to adjust your truck bed camping setup to match your needs and specific situation.
Secure The Tent Tightly To Prevent Scratching
If using a tent of any kind, it’s in your best interest to keep the straps and lines as tight as possible.
Moving around in your tent and wind picking up causes straps and tent poles to rub against your truck.
This could scratch the truck and even rub some paint off.
Tight straps don’t move as much, and they stop the tent from moving too.
Add An Awning Or Extra Canopy For More Covered Outdoor Space
Truck tents and camping setups don’t usually have a lot of covered ground space.
Improvise an awning over the tent or use an extra canopy tent on the ground over the entrance of the tent to expand the space where you can get protection from the sun and possible rain.
It doesn’t have to be fancy.
We’ve used a long rope tied from the top of our tent to a nearby tree, and we draped a tarp over it when it was raining.
Was it pretty? Nope.
Did it work? You bet it did!
Use A Quilt Or Blanket As The Bottom Layer Of Your Bed
Whether you use an air mattress, cot, mat, or pad for sleeping, my wife and I discovered if you add a thick blanket or quilt as a layer on the top of your mattress, but below all the others, it’s way comfier.
The layer serves a double role of insulating from the cold bed of the truck as well as offering some extra cushioning to make it even nicer to sleep there.
Consider A Pee Bottle
This is a gross tip, but it’s one that saved a lot of my friends some struggle.
If you’re up in a rooftop tent or need a ladder for your truck bed tent, it may be tough for you to get down in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, especially if you’re older or less coordinated.
A dedicated “pee bottle” sounds gross, but it’ll save you some risk of potential harm by climbing down in the dark.
Keep Dirty Or Wet Items Outside The Tent
This tip works for all camping, not just truck camping.
There’s no way to ruin your trip faster than to bring wet stuff into your tent.
Keep it outside when possible, and the same is true of dirt and mud.
We always keep our towels, shoes, coats, etc., outside the tent to make our sleeping space as enjoyable as possible.
Consider the awning or canopy from the earlier tip to cover your outside stuff.
Store Food In The Truck
If you’re in a state or local campground, there are others camping near you, and it keeps the biggest critters away (for the most part).
But if you’re in a more remote place, you have to be aware of your food.
Food smells attract a ton of animals at night, including the bear.
Bears aren’t as dangerous as you’d imagine, but it’s still better not to risk it.
Keep your food in the truck itself at night for maximum safety.
At the very least, it needs to be stored up high and far away from where you sleep.
Warning! Never keep food in your tent. That’s just asking for trouble.
Unique Truck Bed Camping Ideas For Camping Spots
Think outside the box when it comes to camping locations.
You don’t have to get a camper wherever you’re camping. All you need is space to park your truck!
Here are a few truck bed camping ideas to consider:
- Campgrounds
- State parks
- State land
- Private campgrounds
- Rest areas
- Leased or rented land
- In your driveway or property
- At a friend’s house
- AllStays – website for helping find places
- National or State forests (dispersed camping)
- Walmart
- Casinos
- Local festivals or fairs